I hate to be negative about him, but he and the coaching staff played a big part in this loss. You could attribute this loss to alot of things like Francis shooting the ball miserably, or Mobley having bad turnovers, or many other things. Hell, I understand that Kidd had the game of his life, but I still think the Rockets could have won the game by ADJUSTING to him. The Suns went on mini runs, but their 2 BIG runs came when Rudy put in the worst 2 defenders on the team in Walt and Bullard.He likes to create mismatches, in hope of taking advantage of these two on the offensive end, but in the end they gave up MUCH more than they contributed on the offensive end. Sure, you could say Rudy wanted them to double and they just weren't executing, but I don't buy it. Watching Bullard get used every time he was in there made me cringe. He put back in the starters after the first run, with Mooch, and we saw how they ended the half. He waited too long to put back in the key players during that second phoenix burst. Where was Shandon in the fourth? Walt Williams may provide the lucky shot every once in a while, but he plays no team defense,and that's what they needed at the time. Again, you can try and find other excuses for this loss, talk about how "players win games not coaches", but the fact is Skiles outcoached Rudy tonight. He made the adjustments, Rudy didn't. ------------------
Rudy left Mooch on Kid too long, Mobley did a better job (but not much.) By the time Rudy came to his senses Kidd was en fuego.Yeah, Steve stunk but turnovers, blown layups and rebounds killed us tonight........I only watched the second half . Where was our man Cato? ------------------
I was really disappointed with those lineups that Rudy went with tonight and have been mystified many other times during the season.This being said,he's done a good job as far as the big picture is concerned and I believe he will have us contending if we keep certain guys and make the big acquisition.Overrall he's just undermanned and has gotten the most out of these guys. ------------------ If I had my life to live over,I would have liked to have ended up as a sportswriter - Richard M. Nixon,1969
For the most part, Rudy is succesful with some of the odd lineups he puts out there. Tonight was a whole another story. I think they Suns had the advantage at every position with the Walt/Bull lineup in there. The problem with them in there is that, one, they obviously can't guard anyone, and two, the rockets became complacent and transformed into a strictly jump shooting team. Rudy has won undermanned with wierd lineups more times than not, but unfortunately this wasn't the case tonight. ------------------ [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited March 29, 2001).]
I don't recall seeing Walt and Bull getting smoked by Kidd too often so maybe you should complain about something else. Like the game plan on Kidd and why they didn't trap him more often to get the ball out of his hands. ------------------ "You have to think optimistic. I think it's never over till it's over." - Clyde Drexler after losing at home to go down 3-1 to the Suns in '95 [This message has been edited by Timing (edited March 29, 2001).]
Yeah TPL,They settled for the outside shot way too much and they died by it.They could have pounded it in.I wonder "What in the world?" sometimes when I see the matchups,but most of the time it does work out...We shouldn't have to worry about being undermanned and having any major matchup problems much longer though.(hope,hope) ------------------ If I had my life to live over,I would have liked to have ended up as a sportswriter - Richard M. Nixon,1969
Well I did see them both getting killed by Rodney Rogers and Guggliota. Not to mention that the Suns were getting second chance points off offensive rebounds because neither of them can rebound. Sure, I'll talk about Kidd. When a guy is having a career night, you take the ball out of his hands.You adjust your defense to stop him like Skiles adjusted the suns defense to stop Hakeem from getting the easy entry pass. The rockets actually played good one on one defense on him, but when he is hitting the shots he was hitting, you need to stop being stubborn about not doubling. The suns are a bad perimeter shooting team if I'm not mistaken. Make them beat you from the outside.The thing people always say when somebody is on like Kidd is "make someone else beat you." How many times have you seen teams,just like tonight, force the ball out of our guards hands? That's what was needed to be done.Trap him every time he touches the ball, and make sure the trapper is someone who is rotating off the worst shooter or ballhandler on the arc. ------------------
Walt and Bullard got burned by Rogers and Googs... Whether it's Kidd, Googs, or Rogers, their easy buckets all count for 2 points... ------------------ "Awesome baby!" Dick Vitale
Rudy left Mooch on Kid too long, Mobley did a better job (but not much.) By the time Rudy came to his senses Kidd was en fuego.Yeah, Steve stunk but turnovers, blown layups and rebounds killed us tonight........I only watched the second half . Where was our man Cato? ------------------
TPL, How about Mo' being injured and not being about to go the whole game....please mention that in your explanation.... but nevermind me, I'm watching Mo' crush Indiana right now in the first overtime!!!
That hurt alot. We needed his offense. It also messed up the substitution patterns and depth on the bench. The rockets usually have a game plan, and they had to change it due to his absence. He usually is the main first quarter offensive option. The best thing he would have provided was a big body. They wouldn't have posted Googs or Rogers if he had been in the game.He at least would have contested the shot better than Bullard or Walt. Still, adjustments could have been made, and Bull and Walt should NEVER be on the court at the same time. ------------------ [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited March 29, 2001).]
You said exactly what I was thinking before, during, and after the game. I was so annoyed with Mo not playing this game b/c they made it sound like he could play but we need him more for those tough games we got coming up. You know, those games against New Jersey and Washington, I'm glad Mo got his rest during the Phoenix game so he can be able to give his all against the piece of crap teams fighting for balls in the eastern conference. Anyway the reason the lineups were all screwy was b/c KT was playing where Mo normally plays and Rudy had no one to replace KT with. Well he could have replaced him with Los or Cato, but he chose to replace him with Bullard. Bullard has his nights where he's the reason we win (San Antonio game), but then again it was obvious his first time out that he wasn't going to help this team much against the Suns. Also towards the end of the game Cat was on Kidd and I thought Cat did a pretty good job on Kidd. BTW is Bill Worrell Kidd's agent? I swear I couldn't tell who Bill was pulling for in the 4th quarter when Kidd was killing us. ------------------
Yeah, the Rockets got killed by Rogers and Googs to the tune of a combined 22 points. That 43 points by Kidd wasn't nearly as damaging as that BIG 22 by Rogers and Googs. Even though Googs shot 5-7, Rogers shot 5-13, Marion shot 4-10, and Uncle Cliffy shot 1-8. I would say if we hold their forwards to 15-38 shooting then we should be in pretty good shape. As for your rebounding comment, those 4 forwards combined had 15 rebounds, Big Jake had 12 all by himself and Kidd had 9. Maybe Dream and Stevie should take the heat for not boxing out their players. Offensive rebounds, Phoenix's 4 forwards had 4 all together. Jake had 3 by himself. We lost the game because Kidd scored 43 points. He averages 16 points. If we could have even held him to double his average we win easy. ------------------ "You have to think optimistic. I think it's never over till it's over." - Clyde Drexler after losing at home to go down 3-1 to the Suns in '95
Here they come... Warm up the "let's get rid of Rudy" threads. ------------------ "There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another which states that this has already happened." Douglas Adams
I'm not going to say "get rid of Rudy", but sometimes, he is a stubborn jackass!!! Everyone points to Kidd's career night, but it would not have mattered if it hadn't been for Bullard. Bull contributed 2 points and personally gave up at least 16. When he came in in the first half, the Rocks had a good lead and the Suns immediately went on an 8-0 run. At least 4 of those points and possibly more were when they went directly at Bull. The second half was even worse!! When Bull came in, Rogers iso'ed on Bull I believe 4 times in a row, successful every time, I believe. Bull switches to guard Googs, and he goes directly at Bull at least two more times in a row, definately successful. How embarassing to put in a player and leave him in when the opponent goes directly at him at least 6 times in a row! I don't know of any other player in the league that is so mis-matched defensively that another team would run play after play against him. It was like the Suns were taking candy from a baby. Some of you guys will defend Rudy at all costs. He either gave up or lost the game with his stubborness. So, with a minus 14 points in the game directly due to Bullard, Kidd could have scored 50 and the Rockets could have still won. Without Bullard, the Rockets might have a big enough lead to weather Kidd's career night. BTW, I thought Cat did a good job defensively on Kidd. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Moe (edited March 30, 2001).]
